Automated diagnostic analyzers having rear accessible track systems and related methods

ABSTRACT

Example apparatus and methods related to automated diagnostic analyzers having rear accessible track systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an analyzer to perform a diagnostic test, the analyzer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The example apparatus includes a loading bay disposed on the first side of the analyzer to receive a first carrier and a pipetting mechanism coupled to the analyzer adjacent the second side. The example apparatus also includes a first carrier shuttle to transport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the loading bay to a second location adjacent the pipetting mechanism and a track disposed adjacent the second side of the analyzer to transfer a second carrier to a third location adjacent the pipetting mechanism.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/213,048, titled “Automated Diagnostic Analyzers Having RearAccessible Track Systems and Related Methods,” and filed Mar. 14, 2014,which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/794,311, titled “Automated Diagnostic AnalyzersHaving Rear Accessible Track Systems and Related Methods,” and filedMar. 15, 2013. U.S. application Ser. No. 14/213,048 and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/794,311 are incorporated herein by this reference intheir entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to automated diagnosticanalyzers and, more particularly, to automated diagnostic analyzershaving rear accessible track systems and related methods.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare diagnostics laboratories use diagnostic instruments fortesting and analyzing specimens or samples. Known automated diagnosticanalyzers employ multiple carousels and multiple pipetting mechanisms toautomatically aspirate liquid from and dispense liquid to differentareas in the analyzer to perform diagnostic analysis procedures. Thecarousels may include a carousel for reaction vessels and a carousel forreagents. By arranging multiple containers on the respective carousels,these known analyzers are capable of conducting multiple assays onmultiple test samples as the carousels rotate. These analyzers typicallyinclude a pipetting mechanism that aspirates a sample from a samplecontainer and dispenses the sample into one or more reaction vessels onone of the carousels. A robotic device is utilized to individuallytransport a single sample container at a time to a region near thesample pipetting mechanism for aspiration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top view of an example analyzer having an example samplepositioner in a first position in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 1B shows the example analyzer of FIG. 1A with the examplepositioner in a second position.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example laboratory system in accordance with theteachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example processing system for theexample analyzers and laboratory systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example diagnostic testingprocess.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a processor platform for use with the examplesdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and describedin detail below. In describing these examples, like or identicalreference numbers are used to identify the same or similar elements. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certainviews of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematicfor clarity and/or conciseness. Additionally, several examples have beendescribed throughout this specification. Any features from any examplemay be included with, a replacement for, or otherwise combined withother features from other examples.

Diagnostics laboratories employ diagnostic instruments such as those fortesting and analyzing specimens or samples including, for example,clinical chemistry analyzers, immunoassay analyzers and hematologyanalyzers. Specimens and biological samples are analyzed to, forexample, check for the presence or absence of an item of interestincluding, for example, a specific region of DNA, mitochondrial DNA, aspecific region of RNA, messenger RNA, transfer RNA, mitochondrial RNA,a fragment, a complement, a peptide, a polypeptide, an enzyme, a prion,a protein, an antibody, an antigen, an allergen, a part of a biologicalentity such as a cell or a viron, a surface protein, and/or functionalequivalent(s) of the above. Specimens such as a patient's body fluids(e.g., serum, whole blood, urine, swabs, plasma, cerebra-spinal fluid,lymph fluids, tissue solids) can be analyzed using a number of differenttests to provide information about the patient's health.

Generally, analysis of a test sample involves the reaction of testsamples with one or more reagents with respect to one or more analytes.The reaction mixtures are analyzed by an apparatus for one or morecharacteristics such as, for example, the presence and/or concentrationof a certain analyte in the test sample. Use of automated diagnosticanalyzers improves the efficiency of the laboratory procedures as thetechnician (e.g., an operator) has fewer tasks to perform and, thus, thepotential for operator or technician error is reduced. In addition,automated diagnostic analyzers also provide results much more rapidlyand with increased accuracy and repeatability.

Automated diagnostic analyzers use multiple pipettes to move liquidsbetween storage containers (e.g., receptacles such as open topped tubes)and containers in which the specimens are to be processed (e.g.,reaction vessels). For example, a specimen may be contained in a tubethat is loaded in a rack on an analyzer, and a head carrying a pipettemoves the pipette into the tube where a vacuum is applied to extract aselected amount of the specimen from the tube into the pipette. The headretracts the pipette from the tube and moves the pipette to another tubeor reaction vessel located at a processing station, depositing theextracted amount of the specimen from the pipette into the reactionvessel. A reagent is similarly acquired from a reagent supply.

In other examples, a track or positioner (e.g., a robotic device) isdisposed at the front of an analyzer to move a sample tube or a samplecarrier to a position near a pipette such that the pipette can aspiratefrom the sample tube. In such examples, a loading bay or rack isdisposed on the front side of the analyzer to receive and hold multiplecarriers, which may contain, for example, samples and/or reagents to beused in the diagnostic testing. To position samples for testing, thepositioner retrieves the carrier from the loading bay and transfers thecarrier to a location near an operating range of the sample pipette,which is also adjacent the front of the analyzer. After aspiration, thepositioner transports the sample carrier back to the loading bay andreloads the sample carrier in a respective slot. The positioner may thenretrieve a second carrier and likewise transfers the second carrier tothe location near the sample pipette.

However, the pipetting mechanisms of these known analyzers are only ableto aspirate samples from sample tubes that are positioned in a specificlocation by the positioner. In addition, because only one positioner isutilized, the positioner can only retrieve and hold one carrier at atime and, thus, there are increased time delays between aspirations fromdifferent carriers.

Additionally, for some diagnostic testing, some samples may have ahigher priority for testing, some samples and/or reagents may need to berefrigerated and/or other samples and/or reagents may involve additionalprocessing steps (e.g., centrifugation, incubation) prior to analysis.Some known laboratories use a laboratory automated system having a trackto transport priority samples and other liquids (e.g., reagents,calibration fluids, control fluids, wash fluids, etc.) to the analyzers.In some known configurations, the track is located along a side of theanalyzer and transports the priority samples to a location within theoperating range of the sample pipetting mechanism. This arrangementincreases the footprint of the analyzer particularly in configurationsin which multiple analyzers (e.g., modules) are arranged next to eachother. Also, the track system being disposed on the sides of theanalyzers prevents the alignment (e.g., a side-by-side layout) ofmultiple modules, and in some examples, it may be desired to addmultiple modules (e.g., analyzers) to increase throughput of alaboratory or facility utilizing the analyzers. In other knownconfigurations, the track system is disposed along the front of theanalyzers outside of the front loading bay. However, with thisarrangement, additional robotic mechanisms and/or spurs are needed tomove the carriers from the track system to the loading bay, and thenfrom the loading bay into the analyzer. Additionally, with thisarrangement, the track system blocks access to the front loading bayand, thus, an operator or technician is not able to manually loadsamples and/or reagents for diagnostic testing.

The example analyzers disclosed herein have a sample pipette (e.g., apipetting mechanism) disposed near a rear side of the analyzer and oneor more shuttle carriers to transport sample carriers from a front sideof the analyzer to the rear side of the analyzer near the samplepipette. The sample pipette is positioned to aspirate sample liquid fromsample tubes in the carriers and to dispense the sample liquid into oneor more reaction vessels in the analyzer.

In some examples, the analyzer includes two carrier shuttles thatoperate independently of each other, which decreases time betweenaspirations and, thus, increases throughput of the analyzer.Additionally, by locating the sample pipette adjacent the rear side ofthe analyzer, a laboratory automated system (LAS) track can be disposed(e.g., mounted) at or along the rear side of analyzer withoutinterfering with the layout of the laboratory. For example, multiplemodules or analyzers may be aligned side-by-side, and the LAS track maytraverse along the rear side of the modules for delivering additionalsamples (e.g., priority samples) and sample carriers to the individualanalyzers. Therefore, the example analyzers may perform diagnostictesting according to traditional protocols or schedules that utilize thefront loading bay and may also receive priority samples and otherliquids (e.g., calibration/control liquids) from the LAS withoutinterrupting normal operations of the analyzer. Additionally, themodularity of the example analyzers allows more or less analyzers (e.g.,one, two, three, four or more) to be utilized depending on the demand(e.g., increased demand for immunoassay testing and/or clinicalchemistry testing) of the laboratory or facility. In examples withmultiple analyzers, the analyzers may be any combination of immunoassayor clinical chemistry analyzers. For example, there may be a laboratorysystem with three immunoassay analyzers coupled as modules with aclinical chemistry analyzer. In other examples, there may be two of eachand/or other combinations are possible.

An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an analyzer to perform adiagnostic test, the analyzer having a first side and a second sideopposite the first side. The example apparatus includes a loading baydisposed on the first side of the analyzer to receive a first carrierand a pipetting mechanism coupled to the analyzer adjacent the secondside. The example apparatus also includes a first carrier shuttle totransport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the loadingbay to a second location adjacent the pipetting mechanism. In addition,the example apparatus includes a track disposed adjacent the second sideof the analyzer to transfer a second carrier to a third locationadjacent the pipetting mechanism.

In some examples, the apparatus also includes a second carrier shuttle,wherein the loading bay is to receive a third carrier and the secondcarrier shuttle is to transport the third carrier from the firstlocation adjacent the loading bay to the second location adjacent thepipetting mechanism. In some such examples, the first carrier shuttleand the second carrier shuttle are independently movable. In someexamples, the apparatus also includes a positioner to transport thefirst carrier from a slot in the loading bay to the first carriershuttle. In some such examples, the positioner is to transport the thirdcarrier from a slot in the loading bay to the second carrier shuttle.

In some examples, the first carrier shuttle comprises a lead screw. Insome examples, the first carrier shuttle comprises a conveyor belt.

In some examples, the first carrier shuttle is to move in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the track. In some examples, the trackcomprises a spur to transport the first carrier to or from the thirdlocation.

In some examples, the apparatus also includes a motor to operate thefirst carrier shuttle, the motor being disposed at one of the firstlocation or the second location. In some such examples, the apparatusalso includes a sensor to detect movement in the first carrier shuttle,the sensor disposed at the other of the first location or the secondlocation, opposite the motor.

In some examples, the analyzer comprises a rotatable plate having aplurality of reaction vessels, and the pipetting mechanism is todispense liquid into one or more of the reaction vessels. In some suchexamples, the pipetting mechanism is to follow a first protocol ofliquid transfer between at least one of the second location or the thirdlocation and the reaction vessels. In some examples, the first protocolto be suspended, the first carrier shuttle or a second carrier shuttleis to transport a third carrier from the loading bay to the secondlocation, and the pipetting mechanism is to transfer liquid between thethird carrier and at least one of the reaction vessels.

In some examples, the track is coupled to a refrigerated storage area.In some examples, the pipetting mechanism is to at least one of dispenseor aspirate a sample from the second location and the third location.

Another example apparatus disclosed herein includes a first carousel, asecond carousel, a first track on a first side of the first carousel, asecond track on a second side of the first carousel parallel to thefirst track, a third track on a third side of the first carousel and apipette to access the first carousel, the first track and the thirdtrack.

In some examples, the pipette is to pivot about a single axis to accesseach of the first carousel, the first track and the third track. In someexamples, the third track is perpendicular to the first track. In someexamples, the third track comprises a first shuttle to transport acarrier from a first position near the second track to a second positionnear the pipette. In some examples, the third track comprises a firstshuttle and a second shuttle. In some examples, the first shuttle andsecond shuttle are independently movable. In some examples, the firstcarousel is to carry a reaction vessel and the second carousel is tocarry a reagent container.

An example method is disclosed here that includes transporting a firstcarrier from a first side of an analyzer having a loading bay to asecond side of the analyzer opposite the first side, aspirating a firstliquid from the first carrier using a pipetting mechanism disposedadjacent the second side of the analyzer, and dispensing the firstliquid, via the pipetting mechanism, into a first reaction vessel on theanalyzer. The example method includes transporting a second carrieralong a track to a position adjacent the pipetting mechanism, the trackdisposed along the second side of the analyzer, aspirating a secondliquid from the second carrier using the pipetting mechanism, anddispensing the second liquid, via the pipetting mechanism, into a secondreaction vessel on the analyzer.

In some examples, the first carrier is transported to the second side ofthe analyzer via a first carrier shuttle. In some such examples, themethod includes transporting a third carrier from the first side of theanalyzer to the second side of the analyzer. In some examples, themethod includes aspirating a third liquid from the third carrier usingthe pipetting mechanism and dispensing the third liquid, via thepipetting mechanism, into a third reaction vessel on the analyzer. Insome examples, the third carrier is transported to the second side ofthe analyzer via a second carrier shuttle. In some examples, the firstcarrier shuttle and the second carrier shuttle operate independently ofeach other. In some examples, one or more of the first carrier shuttleor the second carrier shuttle is a track comprising a lead screw. Insome examples, one or more of the first carrier shuttle or the secondcarrier shuttle is a track comprising a conveyor belt. In some examples,one or more of the first carrier, the second carrier or the thirdcarrier comprises at least one test sample tube.

Also disclosed herein is an example system that includes multipleanalyzers. For example, the example system includes a first analyzer toperform a first diagnostic test and a second analyzer to perform asecond diagnostic test. The example first analyzer includes a firstproximal side, a first distal side opposite the first proximal side, afirst pipetting mechanism adjacent the first distal side and a firstloading bay disposed on the first proximal side to receive a firstcarrier. The example analyzer also includes a first carrier shuttle totransport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the firstproximal side to a second location adjacent the first pipettingmechanism. The example second analyzer includes a second proximal side,a second distal side opposite the second proximal side, a secondpipetting mechanism adjacent the second distal side and a second loadingbay disposed on the second proximal side to receive a second carrier. Inaddition, the example second analyzer includes a second carrier shuttleto transport the second carrier from a third location adjacent thesecond proximal side of the second analyzer to a fourth locationadjacent the second pipetting mechanism. Also, the example systemincludes a track disposed along the first distal side and the seconddistal side. The example track includes a first sidetrack to transfer athird carrier to a fifth location adjacent the first pipettingmechanism.

In some example, the example track includes a second sidetrack totransfer the third carrier to a sixth location adjacent the secondpipetting mechanism.

In some examples, the first carrier shuttle and the second carriershuttle are substantially parallel. In some examples, the first carriershuttle is substantially perpendicular to the track.

In some examples, the first diagnostic test is an immunoassay and thesecond diagnostic test is a clinical chemistry assay. Also, in someexamples, the first diagnostic test is an immunoassay and the seconddiagnostic test is an immunoassay. In addition, in some examples, thefirst diagnostic test is a clinical chemistry assay and the seconddiagnostic test is a clinical chemistry assay.

In some examples, the example system also includes a positioner disposedalong the first proximal side and the second proximal side of the secondanalyzer. In some examples, the positioner is to transfer the secondcarrier from the second loading bay to the first carrier shuttle on thefirst analyzer.

In example system also may include a third analyzer disposed next to oneof the first analyzer or the second analyzer. The example third analyzerincludes a third proximal side, a third distal side opposite the thirdproximal side, a third pipetting mechanism adjacent the third distalside and a third loading bay disposed on the third proximal side toreceive a fourth carrier. In addition, the example third analyzerincludes a third carrier shuttle to transport the fourth carrier from asixth location adjacent the third proximal side of the third analyzer toa seventh location adjacent the third pipetting mechanism. In someexamples, the example track of the example system also is disposed alongthe third distal side of the third analyzer.

Turning now to the figures, an example automated diagnostic analyzer 100is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as having a first carousel 102 and a secondcarousel 104. The analyzer 100 may be used, for example, to performimmunoassays, clinical chemistry tests, or any other diagnostics tests.The first carousel 102 and the second carousel 104 are rotatably coupledto a base station 106 independent of each other. The base station 106houses different subassemblies and other components used for testing(e.g., performing diagnostic analyses) such as, for example, washliquid, bulk reagents, a vacuum source, a pressure source, arefrigeration system, temperature sensors, a processor, motors, etc.

In the example shown, the second carousel 104 is vertically distanced(e.g., spaced) above the first carousel 102 and at least a portion ofthe second carousel 104 is disposed above and over the first carousel102. In other examples, the first carousel 102 and the second carousel104 are disposed next to each other (e.g., coplanar) or may be arrangedto be concentric with each other.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first carousel 102 isa reagent carousel and the second carousel 104 is a reaction vesselcarousel. However, in other examples, the first and second carousels102, 104 may hold reagents, samples, reaction vessels or any combinationthereof. In the illustrated examples, the first carousel 102 includes aplurality of reagent containers (including, for example, liquids havingmicroparticles) arranged annularly around the carousel. In someexamples, the first carousel 102 has an inner annular array of reagentcontainers and outer annular array of reagent containers, concentricwith the inner annular array of containers. In the example shown, thesecond carousel 104 is a plate having a plurality of reaction vessels108 a-n disposed around an outer circumference of the plate. In someexamples, the reaction vessels 108 a-n are reusable cuvettes (e.g.,washable glass cuvettes). After a test has been completed in a reactionvessel, the vessel is cleaned (e.g., sterilized) and the vessel may beused for another test. However, in other examples, the reaction vessels108 a-n are disposable cuvettes (e.g., plastic cuvettes) that arediscarded after one or more tests. In operation, the second carousel 104rotates as one or more assay tests are carried out in the reactionvessels 108 a-n. A plurality of different modules or instruments may bedisposed around the second carousel 104 to, for example, dispensereagents, mix the contents of the reaction vessels, incubate thecontents of the reaction vessels, analyze the contents, wash thereaction vessels, etc.

The example automated diagnostic analyzers disclosed herein also includeone or more pipetting mechanisms (e.g., probe arms, automated pipettes,pipettes, etc.) to aspirate and dispense liquids within the reactionvessels 108 a-n on the second carousel 104. In the illustrated exampleshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the analyzer 100 includes a pipettingmechanism 110 (e.g., a sample pipette) that is coupled (e.g., mounted)to the base station 106. The pipetting mechanism 110 has multipledegrees of freedom. In the example shown, the pipetting mechanism 110has a path of travel 112 (e.g., an arc path, a horizontal arc path, aradius of travel, an operating range), such that the pipetting mechanism110 can aspirate (e.g., draw liquid) from or dispense liquid tocontainers located along the path of travel 112. As shown, the pipettingmechanism 110 is positioned to have access to one of the reactionvessels 108 a-n on the second carousel 104 at point A. In some examples,the pipetting mechanism 110 has an axis of rotation and rotates a probearm with a pipette disposed at the distal end of the probe arm. Thepipetting mechanism 110 is also movable in the Z direction (e.g., thevertical direction).

In the example shown, the pipetting mechanism 110 is disposed outside ofthe first carousel 102 and outside of the second carousel 104, forexample, coupled to the base 106 in a position at a distance from thecenter of the first carousel 102 and the center of the second carousel104 that is greater than either a first diameter of the first carousel102 or a second diameter of the second carousel 104. However, in otherexamples, the pipetting mechanism 110 is disposed above and over thefirst carousel 102 and/or adjacent the second carousel 104. In suchexamples, the pipetting mechanism 110 may be mounted to a platform thatis disposed between the first carousel 102 and the second carousel 104.In still other examples, the pipetting mechanism 110 may be disposedover the first carousel 102 and over the second carousel 104.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the example analyzer 100 has afirst side 114 (e.g., a front side) and a second side 116 (e.g., a backside, a rear side) opposite the first side 114. The pipetting mechanism110 is disposed near (e.g., adjacent, along, next to, closer to,bordering) the second side 116 of the analyzer 100. The analyzer 100also includes a random sample handler (RSH) 118 (e.g., a loading bay) onthe first side 114 of the analyzer 100 for accepting and retainingcarriers having samples and/or reagents that are to be used fordiagnostic testing. In the example shown, the RSH 118 includes a loadingrack 120 having a plurality of slots 122 a-n for receiving containers,carriers and/or trays of carriers. In the example shown, a plurality ofcarriers 124 a-n have been inserted into the slots 122 a-n in theloading rack 120. The carriers 124 a-n may hold one or more containers(e.g., a tube, a vessel, an open top container, a vial, a cup, etc.).The containers may include samples, reagents, calibrations, controlliquids, etc., used by the analyzer 100 for assay diagnostic testing. Insome examples, an operator (e.g., a laboratory technician) loads thecarriers 124 a-n individually or in trays into the loading rack 120 ofthe RSH 118. In other examples, an automated track system transports thecarriers 124 a-n to the RSH 118 and loads the carriers 124 a-n intorespective ones of the slots 122 a-n, for example, via a roboticmechanism.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a number of carriers 124 a-n have been shown asinserted into different slots 122 a-n. In the example shown, each of thecarriers 124 a-n is holding six containers. However, in other examples,the carriers 124 a-n can be configured to hold more or fewer containersdepending on the analyzer, the RSH design parameters and/or the carrierlayout. The carriers 124 a-n are held in the slots 122 a-n untilselected for testing or retesting.

In the example shown, the RSH 118 includes a positioner 126, which maybe a robotic device, to transport the carriers 124 a-n and containerscoupled thereto to and from the loading rack 120. The positioner 126 ismovable along a positioner track 128 disposed along the length of theloading rack 120 and the first side 114 of the analyzer 100. Thepositioner 126 has an arm 130 to engage the carriers 124 a-n loaded inthe RSH 118. The positioner 126 and the arm 130 operate to remove thecarriers 124 a-n from their respective slots 122 a-n and transport thecarriers 124 a-n to different locations along the positioner track 128.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the example analyzer 100 alsoincludes a first carrier shuttle 134 (e.g., a transporter) and a secondcarrier shuttle 136 that are disposed near (e.g., along, adjacent, nextto, bordering) a third side 138 (e.g., the left side of FIGS. 1A and 1B)of the analyzer 100, opposite a fourth side 140 (e.g., the right side ofFIGS. 1A and 1B) of the analyzer 100. In the example shown, the firstside 114, the second side 116, the third side 138 and the fourth side140 define the outer boundaries of the analyzer 100. In the exampleshown, the analyzer 100 has a rectangular cross-section or footprint.However, in other examples, the analyzer 100 has a square cross-section,a circular cross-section, or any other shaped cross-section orfootprint.

In the example shown, the positioner 126 transports the carriers 124 a-nto and from the first carrier shuttle 134 and/or the second carriershuttle 136. For example, in FIG. 1A, the positioner 126 engages thefirst carrier 124 a in the loading rack 120 of RSH 118. The positioner126 transports the first carrier 124 a to, in this example, the firstshuttle 134, as shown in FIG. 1B, where the positioner 126 releases orotherwise transfers the first carrier 124 a onto the first carriershuttle 134. The positioner 126 is controlled by a programmable computerfor moving the carriers 124 a-n as needed and/or desired (e.g.,according to scheduling protocols or timetables) for testing. The RSH118 provides random access to the carriers 124 a-n on the loading rack120. The analyzer 100 includes software that allows users to flexiblyconfigure rules or criteria for testing samples. The software may beprogrammed into and/or operated from an example processor 316 (FIG. 3),which is disclosed in more detail below.

In some examples, the positioner 126 includes a label reader such as,for example, a barcode reader, a radio frequency identification (RFID)reader and/or other type of reader, to read carrier and containerinformation. The label reader reads the labels attached to the carriers,the sample tubes and/or reagent tubes as the positioner 126 passes thecarriers by the reader. An example RSH and an example positioner aredisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/106,755, titled “ASSAYTESTING DIAGNOSTIC ANALYZER,” filed on Apr. 21, 2008, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In the illustrated example, the first and second carrier shuttles 134,136 operate to move carriers (e.g., the carriers 124 a-n) and/orcontainers between a first position near the first side 114 of theanalyzer 100 (e.g., adjacent the rack 120 or the RSH 118) and a secondposition near the second side 116 of the analyzer 100 (e.g., near thepipetting mechanism 110). Specifically, the first and second carriershuttles 134, 136 operate to transport carriers 124 a-n to a positionwithin the path of travel 112 of the pipetting mechanism 110, such thatliquid (e.g., a sample, a specimen) within the containers on thecarriers 124 a-n can be aspirated from the containers via the pipettingmechanism 110. The pipetting mechanism 110 may then dispense the liquidat point A into one or more of the reaction vessels 108 a-n on thesecond carousel 104 for testing.

In the example shown, the first carrier shuttle 134 includes a firsttrack 142 and the second carrier shuttle 136 includes a second track144. In some examples, the first track 142 and the second track 144 areconveyor belts that move to transport carriers placed on the respectivetracks 142, 144 from one position to another position along the firstand second tracks 142, 144. In other examples, the first and secondtracks 142, 144 include other track devices such as, for example, abelt, a chain, a carriage, a lead screw, an air cylinder, and/or alinear motor or combinations thereof. In some examples, the firstcarrier shuttle 134 and the second carrier shuttle 136 comprisedifferent types of tracks. In the example shown, the first carriershuttle 134 includes a first motor 146 (e.g., an electric motor, a servomotor, a stepper motor, etc.) to drive the first track 142 and thesecond carrier shuttle 136 includes a second motor 148 to drive thesecond track 144. In this example, the first and second tracks 142, 144are operated independently of each other. In other examples, theoperations of the first and second tracks 142, 144 are coordinated. Thefirst and second motors 146, 148 may be used to rotate one or morepulleys or gears, which, in turn, move the tracks 142, 144. In theexample shown, the first and second motors 146, 148 are rotatable ineither direction to move the first and second tracks 142, 144,respectively, in either direction.

In the example shown, the first and second motors 146, 148 are locatedcloser to the second side 116 of the analyzer 100. In the example shown,the first and second carrier shuttles 134, 136 also include respectivesensors 150, 152 such as, for example, a linear encoder and/or atransducer. The first and second sensors 150, 152 are located adjacentthe first and second tracks 142, 144 to sense a position/movement of therespective tracks 142, 144. Thus, the first and second sensors 150, 152provide feedback to the first and second motors 146, 148 to indicatewhether the first and second tracks 142, 144 are actually moving whenthe first and second motors 146, 148 are operating. In the exampleshown, the first and second sensors 150, 152 are positioned on the firstand second carrier shuttles 134, 136 opposite the first and secondmotors 146, 148 as a safety feature to ensure that the tracks 142, 144are moving when the motors 146, 148 are operating. In some instances,the first and/or second tracks 142, 144 may become dislodged, misalignedor otherwise inoperative and, thus, will not properly transport thecarriers. In such an instances, the first and second motors 146, 148 maycontinue to operate (e.g., spin, rotate, etc.) according to a programmedtesting protocol. If the sensors 150, 152 were located adjacent thefirst and second motors 146, 148, the continued operation of the motors146, 148 could interfere with the readings of the sensors 146, 148, andcause the sensors 150, 152 to erroneously indicate that the tracks 142,144 were operating normally. By locating the sensors 150, 152 at theopposite end of the carrier shuttles 134, 136 than the motors 146, 148,the sensors 150, 152 can ensure the tracks 134, 136 are actually movingin accordance with the programming of the first and second motors 146,148. In some examples, the motors 146, 148 are disposed at, near orcloser to the second side 116 of the analyzer 100, and the sensors 150,152 are at, near or closer to the first side 114 of the analyzer 100. Inother examples, this configuration may be switched, such that the motors146, 148 are disposed at, near or closer to the first side 114 of theanalyzer 100, and the sensors 150, 152 are disposed at, near or closerto the second side 116 of the analyzer 100.

The use of multiple shuttle carriers 134, 136 enables the exampleanalyzer 100 to perform sampling (e.g., aspirating and/or dispensing)from one carrier on one track while another carrier is being loaded ontothe other track. For example, a first carrier 124 a can be retrievedfrom the RSH 118 by the positioner 126 (FIG. 1A) and deposited on thefirst track 142 of the first carrier shuttle 134 (FIG. 1B). In someexamples, the arm 130 of the positioner 126 includes a hook to engage atab on the end of the carrier. In other examples, the arm 130 has agripping mechanism to grip the sides of the carrier. In either example,the arm 130 is used to grab the first carrier 124 a from its respectiveslot 122 a-n in the loading rack 120 (FIG. 1A) and then lifts to extractthe first carrier 124 a from of its respective slot 122 a-n. After thepositioner 126 retrieves the first carrier 124 a, the positioner 126moves (e.g., slides, translates) along the positioner track 128 towardsthe third side 138 of the analyzer 100 and, thus, towards the first andsecond carrier shuttles 134, 136. The arm 130 of the positioner 126 thenrotates to align the first carrier on the first track 142 of the firstcarrier shuttle 134, as shown in the position in FIG. 1B. In the exampleshown, the arm 130 is capable of rotating at least about 180°.

After the first carrier 124 a is placed on the first track 142 of thefirst carrier shuttle 134, the first motor 146 operates to move thefirst carrier 124 a, via the first track 142, from a first position nearthe first side 114 of the analyzer 100 to a second position near thesecond side 116 of the analyzer 100 and, thus, within the path of travel112 of the pipetting mechanism 110. The pipetting mechanism 110 mayaspirate from a container on the first track 142 along the first path oftravel 112 at point B. The first motor 146 operates to position thefirst carrier 124 a so that the first path of travel 112 intersects theappropriate container on the first carrier. After aspirating from acontainer, the pipetting mechanism 110 moves along its first path oftravel 112 to dispense the liquid into one or more of the reactionvessels 108 a-n on the second carousel 104 at point A.

While the pipetting mechanism 110 is aspirating from a container on thefirst carrier 124 a, the positioner 126 can retrieve a second carrier124 b-n from the RSH 118 and load the second carrier 124 b-n onto thesecond track 144 of the second carrier shuttle 136. The second motor 148operates to move the second carrier 124 b-n on the second track 144 fromthe first position near the first side 114 of the analyzer 100 to thesecond side 116 of the analyzer 100 near the pipetting mechanism 110.The second motor 148 operates to position the second carrier 124 b-nalong the first path of travel 112 of the pipetting mechanism 110 (e.g.,the position shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B). The pipetting mechanism 100 mayaspirate from a container on the carrier 124 b-n on the second track 144at point C. As the second carrier shuttle 136 transports the secondcarrier 124 b-n to/from the second position near the second side 116,and/or as the pipetting mechanism 110 aspirates from the second carrier124 b-n, the first carrier shuttle 134 may simultaneously andindependently transport the first carrier 124 a to/from the firstposition adjacent the first side 114 of the analyzer 100 and/or thesecond position adjacent the second side 116.

When a carrier, e.g., the first carrier 124 a, returns to the firstposition adjacent the first side 114 of the analyzer 100, the positioner126 unloads the first carrier 124 a and places the first carrier 124 awithin one of the slots 122 a-n in the loading rack 120. The positioner126 is then able to retrieve the first carrier 124 a or another carrier124 b-n from the loading rack 120 and deposit that carrier 124 a-n onthe first track 144 of the first carrier shuttle 134. By employing twocarrier shuttles 134, 136, one of the carrier shuttles 134, 136 canoperate to hold a carrier near the second position for aspiration whileanother carrier can be loaded onto the other carrier shuttle 134, 136for subsequent transportation to the second side 116 of the analyzer100. Thus, the time between aspirations is reduced, which increasesthroughput of the example analyzer 100.

In the example shown, the first and second carrier shuttles 134, 136 arealigned substantially parallel to one another and are disposed along thethird side 138 of the analyzer 100. However, in other examples, thefirst and second carrier shuttles 136, 136 may be positioned otherlocations and/or not parallel to one another. In the example shown, thefirst and second carrier shuttles 134, 136 are disposed over a portionof the first carousel 102. In other examples, the first and/or secondcarrier shuttles 134, 136 are disposed outside of the first carousel 102(i.e., next to the first carousel 102).

In some examples, test orders are programmed by an operator ordownloaded via a lab information system or any network. A test order mayrequire a plurality of assays. Once a sample is loaded, a programmablecomputer determines the order (e.g., scheduling, protocols) of thedifferent sample tests based on factors including, for example, numberof tests to be conducted, types of reagents to be used, number ofreagents to be used, an incubation period, scheduled priority and otherfactors. In the example shown, the positioner 126, the first track 142,the second track 144, the first motor 146, the second motor 148 andother components are controlled in response to commands from theprogrammable computer.

In the illustrated example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a laboratoryautomated system (LAS) 154 has a main track 156 and a first subtrack orspur 158, which is disposed along the second side 116 of the analyzer100. The LAS 154 may include multiple instruments and equipment forprocessing and preprocessing certain samples, reagents, calibrations,controls, etc. In some examples, the LAS 154 includes and/or is coupledto a refrigerated storage area, a centrifuge, an aliquoter and/or anyother processing station(s). In some examples, the LAS includes a systemof tracks and robotic positioners to move carriers from one instrumentto another.

In the example shown, the LAS 154 transports carriers (e.g., samplecarriers) or containers to a position near the analyzer 100 and, morespecifically, to a position within the first path of travel 112 of thepipetting mechanism 110. For illustrative purposes, a carrier 124 c isdepicted on the first subtrack or spur 158. In operation, the carrier124 c is transported along the main track 156 of the LAS 154 and whenthe carrier 124 c arrives at the first spur 158, the carrier 124 c maycontinue down the main track 156 or may be diverted to the first spur158 to be sent to the position adjacent the pipetting mechanism 110. Asshown, the path of travel 112 of the pipetting mechanism 110 extendsbeyond the second side 116 of the analyzer 110. In the example shown,the pipetting mechanism 110 may aspirate a liquid (e.g., a sample) froma container on the carrier at the first spur 158 at point D. In theexample shown, the main track 156 and the spur 158 of the LAS 154 aresubstantially parallel to the second side 116 of the analyzer 100 andare substantially perpendicular to the first and second carrier shuttles134, 136.

In the example shown, the pipetting mechanism 110 is located near thesecond side 116 of the analyzer 100 and has access (e.g., can aspiratefrom and/or can dispense to) to the reaction vessels 108 a-n on thesecond carousel 104 at point A, a carrier on the first track 142 of thefirst carrier shuttle 134 at point B, a carrier the second track 144 ofthe second carrier shuttle 136 at point C and/or a carrier on the spur158 of the LAS 154 at point D. Therefore, the pipetting mechanism 110has access to carriers loaded in the RSH 118 at the first side 114(e.g., the front side) of the analyzer 110 (via one or more of thecarrier shuttles 134, 136) and carriers transported along the track 156of the LAS 154 on the second side 116 (e.g., the back side) of theanalyzer 100. Continuous access to carriers at different locationsaround the pipetting mechanism 110 points allows the pipetting mechanism110 to aspirate from multiple sample containers more efficiently andwith less idle or down time and, as a result, increases the throughputof the example analyzer 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example laboratory system 200 having a firstdiagnostic analyzer 202 (e.g., a first module), a second diagnosticanalyzer 204 (e.g., a second module) and a laboratory automation system(LAS) 206. In the example shown, the first analyzer 202 includes a firstcarousel 208 and a second carousel 210. In the example shown, the secondcarousel 210 is reaction carousel having a plurality of reaction vesselsfor conducting diagnostic tests on one or more samples in the pluralityof reaction vessels. The first analyzer 202 also includes a first randomsample handler (RSH) 212 (e.g., a first loading bay) disposed along afirst side 214 (e.g., a front side) of the first analyzer 202, oppositea second side 216 (e.g., a rear side) of the first analyzer 202. A firstpipetting mechanism 218 is disposed on the first analyzer 202 adjacentthe second side 216 of the first analyzer 202 and has a first path oftravel 220 (e.g., horizontal arc path, range of access).

In the example shown, the first analyzer 202 further includes a firstcarrier shuttle 222 and a second carrier shuttle 224 located along athird side 226 (e.g., the left side) of the first analyzer 202, oppositea fourth side 228 (e.g., the right side) of the first analyzer 202. Inthe example shown, each of the first and second carrier shuttles 222,224 has a respective track 230, 232 (e.g., lead screw) and a respectivecarriage 234, 236 (e.g., shuttles). The first and second tracks 230, 232operate to move the respective carriages 234, 236 from a first positionnear the first side 214 of the first analyzer 202 to a second positionnear the second side 216 of the first analyzer 202 and within the firstpath of travel 220 of the first pipetting mechanism 218. In the exampleshown, the first and second carriages 234, 236 are platforms for holdinga carrier. As the first and second tracks 230, 232 operate (e.g.,rotate), the first and second carriages 234, 236 move along thelongitudinal axes of the respective track 230, 232.

In the example shown, the second analyzer 204 includes similarcomponents as the first analyzer 202 such as, for example, a thirdcarousel 238 (e.g., a reagent carousel), a fourth carousel 240 (e.g., areaction carousel), a second RSH 242, a first side 244 (e.g., a frontside) opposite a second side 246 (e.g., a rear side), a third side 248(e.g., a left side) opposite a fourth side 250 (e.g., a right side), asecond pipetting mechanism 252 with a second path of travel 254, a thirdcarrier shuttle 256, a fourth carrier shuttle 258, a third track 260(e.g., a third lead screw), a fourth track 262 (e.g., a fourth leadscrew), a third carriage 264 and a fourth carriage 266. The third andfourth carrier shuttles 256, 258 of the second analyzer 204 operate totransport carriers from a first position adjacent the first side 244 ofthe second analyzer 204 to a second position adjacent the second side246 of the second analyzer 204 and within the second path of travel 254of the second analyzer 204.

In the example shown, a positioner 268 is movable along a positionerpath 270 between the first and second RSH 212, 242 and along the firstsides 214, 244 of the first and second analyzers 202, 204. In thisexample, only one positioner 268 is utilized to transport carriers amongthe first RSH 212, the second RSH 242, the first track 230, the secondtrack 232, the third track 260 and/or the fourth track 262. In someexamples, the positioner 268 is substantially similar to the positioner126 disclosed above in connection with FIGS. 1A and 1B. The positioner268 may retrieve carriers loaded within the first and second RSH 212,242 and may transport the carriers via the first, second, third orfourth carrier shuttles 222, 224, 256, 258.

In the example shown, a first plurality of carriers 272 a-n are loadedin the first RSH 212, and a second plurality of carriers 274 a-n areloaded in the second RSH 242. In operation, the positioner 268 is toretrieve one of the first or second plurality of carriers 272 a-n, 274a-n and is to place (e.g., position, deposit, transport) the carrier onone of the first, second, third or fourth carrier shuttles 222, 224,256, 258. The carriers 272 a-n, 274 a-n may then be transported via oneof the carriages 234, 236, 264, 266 and tracks 230, 232, 260, 262 to aposition near the second side 216, 246 of one of the analyzers 202, 204.

In the example shown, the first pipetting mechanism 218 of the firstanalyzer 202 may aspirate from a container in a first carrier on thefirst carriage 234 at point A and may aspirate from another container ina second carrier on the second carriage 236 at point B, which are bothalong the first path of travel 220. Similarly, the second pipettingmechanism 252 may aspirate from a container in a third carrier on thethird carriage 264 at point C and may aspirate from another container ina fourth carrier on the fourth carriage 266 at point D, both of whichare along the second path of travel 254 of the second pipettingmechanism 252. The first pipetting mechanism 218 may access one or morereaction vessels on the second carousel 210 at point E, and the secondpipetting mechanism 252 may access one or more reaction vessels on thefourth carousel 240 at point F.

In the example system shown in FIG. 2, the LAS 206 includes a main track276 that is disposed along the second sides 216, 246 of the first andsecond analyzers 202, 204. The main track 276 has a first subtrack orspur 278 and a second subtrack or spur 280. The first spur 278 displacesa carrier on the main track 276 to a position near the second side 216of the first analyzer 202 and within the first path of travel 220 of thefirst pipetting mechanism 218. The second spur 280 displaces a carrieron the main track 276 to a position near the second side 246 of thesecond analyzer 204 and within the second path of travel 254 of thesecond pipetting mechanism 252. In the example shown, the firstpipetting mechanism may aspirate from a container on a carrier on thefirst spur 278 at point G, and the second pipetting mechanism 252 mayaspirate from another container on another carrier on the second spur280 at point H.

Although only two analyzers 202, 204 are shown in this example, more(e.g, three or four) or fewer analyzers may be added to the laboratorysystem 200, and the track 276 of the LAS 206 may be configured totraverse along or near the analyzers to supply the analyzers with accessto additional carriers. The LAS 206 transports carriers havingadditional liquids such as, for example, priority samples for testing,calibration and control liquids, additional reagents (including, forexample, liquids with microparticles), etc. In some examples, the LAS206 is tied to additional equipment such as, for example, a refrigeratedstorage area 282, a centrifuge 284 and/or an aliquoter 286.

In some example tests, such as clinical chemistry tests, a body liquidmay be analyzed, such as for example, serum or plasma. Serum is theyellow, watery part of blood that is left after blood has been allowedto clot and all blood cells have been removed such as, for example, viacentrifugation, which packs the denser blood cells and platelets to thebottom of a centrifuge tube and leaves the liquid serum fraction restingabove the packed cells. Plasma is similar to serum but is obtained bycentrifuging blood without clotting. The LAS 206 of example system 200enables sample liquids such as, for example, serum or plasma to beprocessed in the centrifuge 284 and then transported to one or more hfirst and second analyzers 202, 204 for diagnostic testing. In otherexamples, the LAS 206 allows priority samples to be loaded onto carriersand sent along the track 276 to a position within the first and/orsecond paths of travel 220, 254 of the respective pipetting mechanisms218, 252. By disposing the pipetting mechanisms 218, 252 near the secondsides 216, 246 of the analyzers 202, 204, and by providing the carriershuttles 222, 224, 256, 258 to transport carrier to and from the firstand second sides 214, 244, 216, 246 of the analyzers 202, 204, theanalyzers 202, 204 may receive samples in a traditional operating mannerthrough the first sides 214, 244 and/or may receive samples from the LAS206 at the second sides 216, 246. Additionally, by disposing thepipetting mechanisms 218, 252 near the second sides 216, 246 of theanalyzers, the analyzers 202, 204 can be arranged in a side-by-sideconfiguration without interfering with operations of the respectiveanalyzers 202, 204 and, thus, laboratory floor space is decreased.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example processing system 300 for usewith any of the analyzers 100, 202, 204 and/or the LAS 154, 206disclosed herein. Example analyzers disclosed herein are used to, forexample, perform diagnostic testing on multiple test samples using oneor more reagents and/or other diagnostic test procedures. The exampleprocessing system 300 includes a carousel controller 302 to control theoperations (e.g., rotational sequences, locksteps, indexing, etc.) ofone or more carousels on an analyzer. In some examples, an analyzerincludes one or more carousels having a plurality of containers orvessels. In some examples, the analyzer includes a first carousel havinga plurality of reagent containers that contain reagents for diagnostictesting and a second carousel having a plurality of vessels (e.g.,reaction vessels) that are used for testing the samples. For example,the analyzer 100 disclosed above includes the first carousel 102 (e.g.,a reagent carousel), and the second carousel 104 (e.g., a reactioncarousel). The second carousel 104 includes a plurality of reactionvessels 108 a-n and rotates the reaction vessels 108 a-n in a continuousor discrete manner while a plurality of diagnostic functions areperformed on the reaction vessels 108-n. The carousel controller 302 maybe used, for example, to control the rotational sequence (e.g., locksteptiming) of the first and second carousels 102, 104.

The example processing system 300 includes a pipette controller 304. Insome examples, an analyzer utilizes one or more pipettes (e.g.,automated pipetting mechanisms, probe arms, etc.) to aspirate a fluidfrom one location and dispense the fluid into another location. In someexamples, an analyzer has multiple pipettes such as, for example, afirst pipette for dispensing a sample into a reaction vessel, a secondpipette for dispensing a first reagent into a reaction vessel, a thirdpipette for dispensing a second reagent into a reaction vessel, etc. Thepipette controller 306 operates to control the pipettes such as, forexample, the movement of the pipettes, the vacuum applied to thepipettes for aspirating, the pressure applied to the pipettes fordispensing, etc. In the example analyzer 100 disclosed above, theanalyzer 100 includes the pipetting mechanism 110, which moves a pipettealong the path of travel 112 to aspirate and dispense fluid such as, forexample, sample. In some examples, the example pipetting mechanism 110dispenses sample into the reaction vessels 108 a-n on the secondcarousel 104 at point A. The pipette controller 304 is used to controlthe pipetting mechanism 110.

The example processing system 300 includes a reader controller 306. Insome examples, a reader (e.g., an analyzer) is disposed along the insideor the outside of the reaction carousel, such that as the reactioncarousel rotates, the reader may analyze the contents of the respectivereaction vessels. In some examples, a reaction vessel is held stationaryin front of the reader for a predetermined time and a reading is taken.In other examples, one or more reaction vessels may be passedcontinuously in front of the reader, and the reader takes a plurality ofindividual readings corresponding to each reaction vessel. The readercontroller 306 operates to control when the readings are taken.

The reader controller 306 may also be used to control other readers. Forexample, a reader positioned near the RSH 118 may be operated to read anRFID tag, a bar code, a QR code or other machine readable code to gatherinformation about the identity of or other data related to the contentsof a carrier 124 a-n and/or a container coupled to the carrier 124 a-n.

The example processing system 300 also includes a positioner controller308 and a shuttle controller 310. In some examples, an analyzer includesa loading bay for receiving containers, carriers having containersand/or trays of carriers. The containers may include reagents, samples,controls, calibrations, etc. In some examples, the loading bay isdisposed on a first side or front side of the analyzer. In someexamples, a positioner (e.g., a robotic mechanism) retrieves thecarriers from the loading bay and transports the carriers to differentareas of the analyzer for testing and retesting. The positionercontroller 308 controls the movement of the positioner to engage andmove carriers in the analyzer. In the example analyzer 100 disclosedabove, the positioner 126 translates along the track 128 on the firstside 114 of the analyzer 100. The positioner 126 also has the arm 130that rotates to engage carriers in the RSH 118. The positionercontroller 308 may be used, for example, to control the movement of thepositioner 126 and the arm 130 along the track 128.

In some examples, an analyzer includes one or more shuttle carriers totransport carriers from one side of the analyzer to the other side ofthe analyzer. In some examples, the pipette is disposed along a secondside or rear side of the analyzer and the carrier shuttle(s) transportsthe carriers from the front of the analyzer adjacent the loading bay toa position near the back side of the analyzer and within the range ofthe pipette. In some examples, the carrier shuttles are operated bymotors (e.g., electric motors, servo motors, stepper motors, etc.). Insome examples, the shuttle carriers utilize a track system such as, forexample, a conveyor belt or a lead screw, to transport the carriers. Thecarrier shuttle controller 310 operates to control the movement of theone or more carrier shuttles to transport carriers along the carriershuttle(s). The carrier shuttle controller 310 may be used, for example,to control the motors 146, 148 of the respective carrier shuttles 134,136.

The example processing system 300 includes sensors 312 communicativelycoupled to the shuttle carrier controller 310. In some examples, one ormore sensors (e.g., transducers, encoders, etc.) are used to sensemovement of the carrier shuttles to determine whether the carriershuttles are operating in accordance with their instructions from thecarrier shuttle controller 310. In some examples, the sensors 312 aredisposed at an opposite end of the carrier shuttles than the motors. Inthe example analyzer 100 disclosed above, the sensors 150, 152 aredisposed along the tracks 142, 146 of the respective carrier shuttles134, 136 to determine whether the tracks 142, 146 of the respectiveshuttle carriers 134, 136 are operating effectively and that the tracks142, 146 are not dislodged, misaligned or otherwise inoperable.

The example processing system 300 includes a laboratory automationsystem (LAS) controller 314. In some examples, a laboratory automationsystem includes a system of tracks and instruments to transport carriersaround a laboratory. Some samples, reagents, and other liquids used indiagnostic testing, require additional processing steps and/orrefrigeration. The LAS may connect to various instruments and, when timefor processing, the LAS may transport the liquid (e.g., a prioritysample), via a carrier, to the back side of the analyzer for aspiratingby the pipette. In some examples, the main track of the LAS includes asubtrack or spur to transport a carrier to the rear side of theanalyzer, such that the carrier is not held stationary on the maintrack. The LAS controller 314 controls operation of the LAS including,for example, the main track, the spurs, and/or any equipment orinstruments attached thereto. For example, the example LAS 154 disclosedabove includes the main track 156 and the spur 158 to transport acarrier (e.g., 124 c) to a location adjacent the rear side of theanalyzer 100, such that the pipetting mechanism 110 may aspirate fromthe contents of the carrier.

The example processing system 300 also includes a processor 316 and adatabase 318. The processor interfaces with the controllers and sensors302-314 of the processing system 300 to control the various operationsof each of the components. The processor 316 is programmable to operatein accordance with desired testing protocol(s). The database 318 may beused to store, for example, information regarding tests that haveoccurred, are to occur, and/or are occurring, testing protocol(s),information regarding the individual samples and/or reagents datagathered from the reader(s), position(s) of the carrier(s),postioner(s), carrier shuttle(s), pipetting mechanism(s), LAS, and/orcarousel(s), and/or other information.

In the example shown, the processing system components 302-318 arecommunicatively coupled to other components of the example system 300via communication links 320. The communication links 320 may be any typeof wired connection (e.g., a databus, a USB connection, etc.) or awireless communication mechanism (e.g., radio frequency, infrared, etc.)using any past, present or future communication protocol (e.g.,Bluetooth, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, etc.). Also, the components of the examplesystem 300 may be integrated in one device or distributed over two ormore devices.

While an example manner of implementing the analyzers 100, 202, 204and/or the LAS 154, 206 of FIGS. 1A-2 is illustrated in FIG. 3, one ormore of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in FIG. 3 maybe combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/orimplemented in any other way. Further, the example carousel controller302, the example pipette controller 304, the example reader controller306, the example positioner controller 308, the example carrier shuttlecontroller 310, the example sensor(s) 312, the example LAS controller314, the example processor 316, the example database 318 and/or, moregenerally, the example processing system 300 of FIG. 3 may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination ofhardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of theexample carousel controller 302, the example pipette controller 304, theexample reader controller 306, the example positioner controller 308,the example carrier shuttle controller 310, the example sensor(s) 312,the example LAS controller 314, the example processor 316, the exampledatabase 318 and/or, more generally, the example processing system 300could be implemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s), logiccircuits, programmable processor(s), application specific integratedcircuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or fieldprogrammable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of theapparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example carouselcontroller 302, the example pipette controller 304, the example readercontroller 306, the example positioner controller 308, the examplecarrier shuttle controller 310, the example sensor(s) 312, the exampleLAS controller 314, the example processor 316 and/or the exampledatabase 318 is/are hereby expressly defined to include a tangiblecomputer readable storage device or storage disk such as a memory, adigital versatile disk (DVD), a compact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc.storing the software and/or firmware. Further still, the exampleprocessing system 300 of FIG. 3 may include one or more elements,processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, thoseillustrated in FIG. 3, and/or may include more than one of any or all ofthe illustrated elements, processes and devices.

A flowchart representative of an example method 400, at least some ofwhich are machine readable, for implementing the example analyzers 100,202, 204, the example LAS 154, 206 and/or the example processing system300 is shown in FIG. 4. In this example, the method 400 may beimplemented using machine readable instructions that comprise a programfor execution by a processor such as the processor 512 shown in theexample processor platform 500 discussed below in connection with FIG.5. The program may be embodied in software stored on a tangible computerreadable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, adigital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associatedwith the processor 512, but the entire program and/or parts thereofcould alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor 512and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although theexample program is described with reference to the flowchart illustratedin FIG. 4, many other methods of implementing the example analyzers 100,202, 204, the example LAS 154, 206 and/or the example processing system300 may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution ofthe blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may bechanged, eliminated, or combined.

As mentioned above, at least some of the elements of the process of FIG.4 may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer and/ormachine readable instructions) stored on a tangible computer readablestorage medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-onlymemory (ROM), a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), acache, a random-access memory (RAM) and/or any other storage device orstorage disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., forextended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarilybuffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, theterm tangible computer readable storage medium is expressly defined toinclude any type of computer readable storage device and/or storage diskand to exclude propagating signals. As used herein, “tangible computerreadable storage medium” and “tangible machine readable storage medium”are used interchangeably. Additionally or alternatively, the exampleprocesses of FIG. 4 may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g.,computer and/or machine readable instructions) stored on anon-transitory computer and/or machine readable medium such as a harddisk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, adigital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory and/or any otherstorage device or storage disk in which information is stored for anyduration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for briefinstances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of theinformation). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer readablemedium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readabledevice or disk and to exclude propagating signals. As used herein, whenthe phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in a preamble of aclaim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” isopen ended.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart representing the example diagnostic testing method400 that may be implemented, for example, by the analyzers 100, 202,204, the LAS 154, 206 and/or the processing system 300 detailed above.The example analyzers include a first carousel and a second carousel,the second carousel being a reaction carousel having a plurality ofreaction vessels for conducting diagnostic tests. As the reactioncarousel rotates, a plurality of automated modules each perform assaysteps on the individual reaction vessels. The example analyzers have afirst side (e.g., a front side) and a second side (e.g., a back side),opposite the first side. In the example analyzers 100, 202, 204 detailedabove, a pipetting mechanism is disposed near the second side of theanalyzer to dispense sample into the reaction vessels on the reactioncarousel as the reaction carousel rotates. In some examples, a loadingbay is disposed on the first side of the example analyzer to receivecarriers or trays of carriers. The example method or process 400includes loading carriers in the first side of the analyzer (block 402).In some examples, each carrier includes multiple containers such as, forexample, test tubes having test samples.

The example process 400 also includes transporting a first carrier to afirst carrier shuttle (block 404). For example, the example analyzer 100disclosed above includes a first carrier shuttle 134 and a secondcarrier shuttle 136 to transport carriers from the first side 114 of theanalyzer 100 to the second side 116 of the analyzer 100. In someexamples, a positioner is located along the loading bay to retrievecarriers from respective slots and transfer the carriers to otherlocations in the analyzer including, for example, to a carrier shuttle.

The example process 400 includes transporting the first carrier from thefirst side of the analyzer to the second side of the analyzer (block406). In some examples, the first carrier shuttle includes a conveyorbelt and a motor to transport the first carrier. In other examples, thefirst carrier shuttle comprises a lead screw and a carriage, such thatthe first carrier may be placed in the carriage and the first lead screwoperates (e.g., rotates) to move the carriage (and the first carrier)from the first side of the analyzer to the second side of the analyzer.In some examples, the first carrier shuttle has a sensor (e.g., anencoder, a transducer) to sense movement of the conveyor belt, as asafety feature.

The example process 400 also includes aspirating a liquid from the firstcarrier (block 408). For example, the example analyzer 100 disclosedabove locates the pipetting mechanism 110 adjacent the second side 116of the analyzer 100. The first carrier shuttle 134 is to transport thefirst carrier from a first location near the first side 114 of theanalyzer 100 to a second location near the second side 116 of theanalyzer and, more specifically, within an access range (e.g., the pathof travel 112, a horizontal arc path, etc.) of the pipetting mechanism110, to enable the pipetting mechanism 110 to aspirate from the firstcarrier. After aspiration, the liquid is dispensed into a first reactionvessel (block 410). In some examples, the pipetting mechanism 110 has anaxis of rotation and a probe arm with a pipette disposed on the distalend of the probe arm. The probe arm rotates to access liquids along apath of travel (e.g., a horizontal arc path) and dispenses the aspiratedliquid into the first reaction vessel on the reaction carousel 104.

The example process includes determining whether there is a secondcarrier shuttle (412). In some examples, the analyzer employs only onecarrier shuttle. In the example analyzers 100, 202, 204 disclosed above,a second carrier shuttle is utilized to reduce turnaround time andincrease throughput. The second carrier shuttle is independentlyoperated. Therefore, one or more of the operations of the second carriershuttle and/or components related thereto (e.g., blocks 314, 316, 318,320) may occur independently and/or simultaneously relative to the oneor more of the operation of the first carrier shuttle and/or componentsrelated thereto (e.g., blocks 304, 306, 308, 310).

The example process 400 includes transporting a second carrier to thesecond carrier shuttle (block 414). For example, as mentioned above, thepositioner 126 of the analyzer 100 retrieves the second carrier 124 b-nfrom a slot 122 b-n in the loading bay 120 and transports the secondcarrier 124 b-n to the second carrier shuttle 136.

The example process 400 also includes transporting the second carrierfrom the first side of the analyzer to the second side of the analyzer(block 416). In some examples, the second carrier shuttle includes aconveyor belt or a lead screw. The second carrier shuttle operates totransport the second carrier from the first location near the first sideof the analyzer to the second location adjacent the second side of theanalyzer and, more specifically, to a location within the path of travelof the pipetting mechanism.

The example process 400 includes aspirating a liquid from the secondcarrier (block 418) and dispensing the liquid into a second reactionvessel on the reaction carousel (420).

In addition, the example process 400 includes transporting a thirdcarrier to the second side of the analyzer (block 422). For example, theexample analyzer 100 may include the laboratory automation system (LAS)154. The LAS 154 has a track system 156 to transport carriers and/orcontainers of diagnostic testing liquid around a laboratory, and aportion of the track (e.g., 158) is disposed adjacent the second side ofthe analyzer. The transport of the third carrier is independent of thetransport of the first and/or second carriers. Therefore, one or more ofthe operations of the first and second carrier shuttle and/or componentsrelated thereto (e.g., blocks 304, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320)may occur independently and/or simultaneously relative to the one ormore of the operation of the LAS 154 and/or components related thereto(e.g., blocks 322, 324, 326).

The example process 400 also includes aspirating a liquid from the thirdcarrier (block 424). For example, the LAS 154 includes the spur 158 thatdirects the third carrier 124 c from the main track 156 to a positionwithin the path of travel 112 of the pipetting mechanism 110 to enableaccess for aspirating the liquid from the third carrier 124 c. Theexample process 300 also includes dispensing the liquid into a thirdreaction vessel on the reaction carousel (block 426). For example, thepipetting mechanism 110 may move in the path of travel 112 and dispenseaspirated liquid into a reaction vessel on the second carousel 104.

The example process includes determining whether additional tests are tobe performed (block 428). If further testing is desired, then theexample process includes transporting the first carrier, via the firstshuttle carrier, from the second location to the first location adjacentthe first side of the analyzer (block 430). In some examples, thepositioner removes the first carrier from the first carrier shuttle andplaces the first carrier in an empty slot in the loading bay. Theexample process may then continue with loading or transporting anothercarrier (block 404) onto the first carrier shuttle (i.e., as the “first”carrier in the illustrated example process 400), and the example process400 proceeds as disclosed above. If further testing is not desiredand/or needed (bock 428), then the example process 400 ends (block 432).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 500 capableof executing the instructions to be performed of FIG. 4 to implement oneor more portions of the apparatus and/or systems of FIGS. 1A-3. Theprocessor platform 500 can be, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a mobile device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), anInternet appliance, and/or or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform 500 of the illustrated example includes aprocessor 512. The processor 512 of the illustrated example is hardware.For example, the processor 512 can be implemented by one or moreintegrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors or controllers fromany desired family or manufacturer.

The processor 512 of the illustrated example includes a local memory 513(e.g., a cache). The processor 512 of the illustrated example is incommunication with a main memory including a volatile memory 514 and anon-volatile memory 516 via a bus 518. The volatile memory 514 may beimplemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), DynamicRandom Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM)and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatilememory 516 may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desiredtype of memory device. Access to the main memory 514, 516 is controlledby a memory controller.

The processor platform 500 of the illustrated example also includes aninterface circuit 520. The interface circuit 520 may be implemented byany type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, auniversal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 522 are connectedto the interface circuit 520. The input device(s) 522 permit(s) a userto enter data and commands into the processor 512. The input device(s)can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, acamera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, atrack-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices 524 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 520 of the illustrated example. The output devices 524 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, a tactileoutput device and/or a light emitting diode (LED). The interface circuit520 of the illustrated example, thus, typically includes a graphicsdriver card, a graphics driver chip or a graphics driver processor.

The interface circuit 520 of the illustrated example also includes acommunication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, amodem and/or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data withexternal machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network526 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), atelephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.).

The processor platform 500 of the illustrated example also includes oneor more mass storage devices 528 for storing software and/or data.Examples of such mass storage devices 528 include floppy disk drives,hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, RAIDsystems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives.

Coded instructions 532 to implement the method of FIG. 4 may be storedin the mass storage device 528, in the volatile memory 514, in thenon-volatile memory 516, and/or on a removable tangible computerreadable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope ofthe claims of this patent.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first carousel; asecond carousel; a first track on a first side of the first carousel; asecond track on a second side of the first carousel parallel to thefirst track; a third track on a third side of the first carousel; and apipette to access the first carousel, the first track and the thirdtrack.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pipette is to pivotabout a single axis to access each of the first carousel, the firsttrack and the third track.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thethird track is perpendicular to the first track.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the third track includes a first shuttle to transport acarrier from a first position near the second track to a second positionnear the pipette.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third trackincludes a first shuttle and a second shuttle.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the first shuttle and second shuttle are independentlymovable.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first carousel is tocarry a reaction vessel and the second carousel is to carry a reagentcontainer.
 8. An apparatus comprising: an analyzer to perform adiagnostic test, the analyzer having a first side and a second sideopposite the first side; a loading bay disposed on the first side of theanalyzer to receive a first carrier; a pipetting mechanism coupled tothe analyzer adjacent the second side; means for transporting the firstcarrier from a first location adjacent the loading bay to a secondlocation adjacent the pipetting mechanism; and means for transporting asecond carrier to a third location adjacent the pipetting mechanism, themeans for transporting the second carrier to the third location locatedoutside of the analyzer.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further includingmeans for transporting the first carrier from the loading bay to thefirst location.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means fortransporting the first carrier from the loading bay to the firstlocation includes means for reading a label on the first carrier. 11.The apparatus of claim 8 further including means for transporting athird carrier from the first location adjacent the loading bay to thesecond location adjacent the pipetting mechanism.
 12. A diagnosticanalyzer comprising: a loading bay disposed on a first side of theanalyzer, the loading bay to receive a first carrier; a carrier shuttleto transport the first carrier from a first location adjacent theloading bay to a second location adjacent a second side of the analyzer;and a pipetting mechanism adjacent the second side, the pipettingmechanism movable along a path between (1) a first point to access thefirst carrier at the second location and (2) a second point in which thepipetting mechanism extends beyond the second side of the base to accessa second carrier adjacent the second side.
 13. The analyzer of claim 12further including a first carousel having a reaction vessel, wherein thepipetting mechanism is further movable along the path to (3) a thirdpoint to access the reaction vessel.
 14. The analyzer of claim 12further including a second carousel, wherein the carrier shuttle isdisposed over a portion of the second carousel.
 15. The analyzer ofclaim 14, wherein the pipetting mechanism is rotatable about an axisdisposed outside of the first carousel and the second carousel.